Navigation lights for small motorboat

[Viktors]

Hallo ! I will be thankful to get information concerning running lights on small motor
boat ( L= 4,4 m ; 40 hp ) - is it accepted to use on such kind of boat the tricolour
situated on the telescopic mast ( L = 50 cm or may be higher ) at the stern ?? I
was studied RCD , COLREG , CEVNI and last issue PBO magazine but do not find
ansver to my question . Somewhere I was red that it is possible - may be now I am seeking something impossible .
Will be appreceate for any comments or help with info .

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[tcm]

yeah, i reckon that would be fine. Loads of dinghies don't have lights at all.

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[steverow]

IRPCS states that for boats under seven metres you are only (I think), required to show a single white light, or even a torch will do, but a tricolor lantern would probably be equally acceptable.

Steve

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[geoffatstanpit]

A single tricolour light means that you are a sailing vessel.


A single white light would be legal (less than 7m, less than 7knots) but I'd have thought that at 40 hp you ought really have red, green and white running lights plus stern light since you're likely to exceed 7 knots.

Geoff

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[wooslehunter]

You cannot use a tri-colour. A tri-colour may only be used by a sailing yacht under sail. From the front you would see just the red or green indicating a boat under sail.

With a 40hp on a 4.4m you are capable of greater than 7kt. The only way you can get away with asingle white like a torch is if you are less than 7m AND capable of less than 7kt max.

Therefore you should have at least an all round white AND side lights. There's no reason why you cannot combine the side lights into a single bi-colour. Mount an all round white on top of you pole & a bi-colour red/green facing forward lower down.

As a boatbuilder you need to make sure you fully understand the IRPCS. There are lots of RIBs and other smaller boats around where the side lights are mounted too low and cannot be seen from the front since they are masked by the bow. I'm waiting for an incident to ocure and the builder to be sued for supplying a boat that was unfit for purpose. Seeing a single white light could indicate a boat at anchore & not one doing 20kts --- BANG.

See IRPCS rule 22/23.


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[Evadne]

I would add, it would be good to check with your local harbour master. In some UK harbours, e.g. Poole, there are local regulations which require you to show full nav. lights, even when the IRPCS say it isn't necessary.

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[Viktors]

Thank to all for your help to find right solution . I must confes that I get the task
to find correct and easy to realize nav. lights solution . I hope that you will not blame my try very much . If it is interesting for somebody what happens in boat
building in Latvia - new member of EU - please check : www.boats.lv .
Here you will see our new favorite "Blesser 440 " - realy succesfull boat .
Merry Christmass and Happy New Year !



<hr width=100% size=1>Viktors